Attorney Says He'll Be Running For Monroe Judge

January 17, 1985|The Morning Call

Atty. Maxwell H. Cohen of Stroudsburg yesterday announced he will seek nomination in the spring for the new judgeship in Monroe County.

"I've taken stock of what I've already done in life and what I'm best equipped to do," Cohen said. "Becoming a judge is the logical extension of a 35-year law career, 34 of which have been in Monroe County.

"Becoming a judge is not a radical change for me; it is merely a shifting of gears. It permits me to continue to be productive and effective in the law and it affords me an opportunity to repay this county for the many benefits it has bestowed on me."

Cohen, a Republican, pledged to strive to meet the high judicial standards set by the county's judges and "to serve the people of Monroe County with the fairness that justice demands."

Cohen said yesterday that he was encouraged to run by colleagues, friends, his wife Dolores and his son Barry.

During his career, Cohen was admitted to practice before a number of courts including the State Supreme, the Superior and Commonwealth courts; U.S. District Court for eastern Pennsylvania; U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals; U.S. Tax Court and the courts of Monroe and Philadelphia counties. He has tried both civil and criminal cases in surrounding counties and in federal court in New Jersey.

Cohen is a zone governor of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and has been a zone delegate. He is treasurer of the state bar's General Practice Section. He has been a member of the Monroe County Bar Association since 1951, serving as editor of the Monroe Legal Reporter and as vice president. He is chairman of the county bar's arbitration committee and a member of the executive committee.

Cohen has been on the East Stroudsburg University Council of Trustees since 1967.

He has been active in local organizations including the Monroe County Community Chest and the Monroe County Mental Health Association. He was a founder of the Pocono Mountain Junior Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the Monroe County Jewish Appeal campaign.

For many years Cohen was an appeal agent for the Selective Service and received two certificates of appreciation from U.S. presidents for his work. He also was on the State Insurance Department Task Force in 1977-78.

Since 1968, he has been solicitor for Monroe County Sheriff Forrest Sebring. He also has been solicitor for the Southeastern Monroe Sewer Authority since 1980.

Cohen graduated from the Temple University Law School in 1949. His undergraduate work was done at Bloomsburg State College and Illinois State and Notre Dame universities while he was in the Navy.

Cohen lives in Stroud Township with his wife. The Cohens have three children, Barry, an attorney, Robert and Beth Amy.